Kyle Weiss
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2011
- Messages
- 11,988
- Reaction score
- 7
...I got it from some guy in the future, who traveled to February, 2013 and threw it through a singularity and it ended up in my pipe one day. Weird, huh?
So, about Navigator. It's supposed to be officially released soon, and I already know it's going to be a winner with many of you.
I had to go through three bowls of the stuff just to get a handle on much of what I was tasting (and get past what I was not tasting, incidentally). The cut is that signature chunky-style of broken flake that I actually adore about GLP mixtures and blends, and it came to me a little on the moist side. The smell is mellow-sweet, and very "wild" smelling.
My first bowl was a bit of an un-broke stallion: I swear all I got was a mouthful of Perique--but, there's no Perique in here. I was getting strong tastes of that funky leaf that screws up my tongue...I thought I was doomed. Below that, however, I got flavors of coriander, hops, and a nice earthy mellowness. There's a leathery "headiness" that was extremely smooth and lovely. The nicotine was steady and perfectly contemplative. Needless to say, beyond my Perique-like reaction, I did smoke the whole darned thing.
On the second bowl, I had learned (from the time-traveler) that it's mostly Virginia, spiced with Kentucky dark fired, rum and then pressed and fermented. One of my thoughts went immediately toward the Kentucky, because, as I understand, there's a fake Perique-like leaf that is made from Kentucky, and treated much the same. This isn't a component of the tobacco, this fake Perique, but it did shed light onto why there is fake Perique, as it may have Perique-like qualities--which, makes sense that my palate would misinterpret Kentucky in general, be it really good stuff or a doppelganger. The overwhelming flavor subsided quite a bit the second round, and I used a different pipe. The coriander, hops and earthy mellowness was much more pronounced, and joined by a faint molasses.
Am I crazy? Probably. But I did let my friend James try a little, and said I nothing, just told him to smoke it: he said, "Ah, nice Perique in there!" *sigh* So, my friends are crazy, too. Great.
He loved the stuff, and I wouldn't give him any more. I still had work to do.
The third try of Navigator almost put me on my ass. I was head-spinnin', and it was good...but I'm not sure it's for me--but I can't put it down. Navigator never gave up the rum ghost to my tongue at all. Not even a little bit. Usually I can tell when it's there (Sextant, by example, which I really like). Beyond that, whatever the "Periqueness" is, the KY influence or merely a coincidental clash of accidents that originally dulled my palate. Is it just me, or am I getting whiffs of bacon off this stuff? I'm getting it. This third smoke is very much improved for me. I'm still getting a bit of tarry-tires, but boom, a bunch of stewed figs and herb-like, almost peaty, staunchness started flaring up now and again. I chose a Peterson this time, rubbed it out thoroughly, and dried the pipeful before loading. It's also raining today, making the normally arid Northern Nevada basin a tad humid. Really, really nice.
I may like it after all.
So, "complex" is a thin description. "Different" is also not right, because there's been a push lately for blenders to go for this dark, pressed and fired leaf: one tobacco sub-genre I'm super into. Navigator is not a beginner's pipeweed, it's a challenge for an intermediate smoker (myself) and I can practically make a list of the guys who are gonna love it (think those who are into Oriental Dusk, Mac B Old Dark Fired, etc). Perique guys? Those of you who are super into it? I'd be curious, once it comes out, what you think.
I'm going to pick up a couple of tins, because like Jackknife, I am not scared of a strong tobacco. I'm not afraid to work and tinker with flavor, especially with quality leaf (which this is). It's going to be a great release by GLP, and surely will have its lovers, haters, and everything in-between (as it goes with this hobby). It'll be worth grabbing some for those that are curious.
Thanks again, time-traveler, you made my day, and...challenge accepted. I have only begun to smoke! :lol:
8)
So, about Navigator. It's supposed to be officially released soon, and I already know it's going to be a winner with many of you.
I had to go through three bowls of the stuff just to get a handle on much of what I was tasting (and get past what I was not tasting, incidentally). The cut is that signature chunky-style of broken flake that I actually adore about GLP mixtures and blends, and it came to me a little on the moist side. The smell is mellow-sweet, and very "wild" smelling.
My first bowl was a bit of an un-broke stallion: I swear all I got was a mouthful of Perique--but, there's no Perique in here. I was getting strong tastes of that funky leaf that screws up my tongue...I thought I was doomed. Below that, however, I got flavors of coriander, hops, and a nice earthy mellowness. There's a leathery "headiness" that was extremely smooth and lovely. The nicotine was steady and perfectly contemplative. Needless to say, beyond my Perique-like reaction, I did smoke the whole darned thing.
On the second bowl, I had learned (from the time-traveler) that it's mostly Virginia, spiced with Kentucky dark fired, rum and then pressed and fermented. One of my thoughts went immediately toward the Kentucky, because, as I understand, there's a fake Perique-like leaf that is made from Kentucky, and treated much the same. This isn't a component of the tobacco, this fake Perique, but it did shed light onto why there is fake Perique, as it may have Perique-like qualities--which, makes sense that my palate would misinterpret Kentucky in general, be it really good stuff or a doppelganger. The overwhelming flavor subsided quite a bit the second round, and I used a different pipe. The coriander, hops and earthy mellowness was much more pronounced, and joined by a faint molasses.
Am I crazy? Probably. But I did let my friend James try a little, and said I nothing, just told him to smoke it: he said, "Ah, nice Perique in there!" *sigh* So, my friends are crazy, too. Great.
He loved the stuff, and I wouldn't give him any more. I still had work to do.The third try of Navigator almost put me on my ass. I was head-spinnin', and it was good...but I'm not sure it's for me--but I can't put it down. Navigator never gave up the rum ghost to my tongue at all. Not even a little bit. Usually I can tell when it's there (Sextant, by example, which I really like). Beyond that, whatever the "Periqueness" is, the KY influence or merely a coincidental clash of accidents that originally dulled my palate. Is it just me, or am I getting whiffs of bacon off this stuff? I'm getting it. This third smoke is very much improved for me. I'm still getting a bit of tarry-tires, but boom, a bunch of stewed figs and herb-like, almost peaty, staunchness started flaring up now and again. I chose a Peterson this time, rubbed it out thoroughly, and dried the pipeful before loading. It's also raining today, making the normally arid Northern Nevada basin a tad humid. Really, really nice.
I may like it after all.
So, "complex" is a thin description. "Different" is also not right, because there's been a push lately for blenders to go for this dark, pressed and fired leaf: one tobacco sub-genre I'm super into. Navigator is not a beginner's pipeweed, it's a challenge for an intermediate smoker (myself) and I can practically make a list of the guys who are gonna love it (think those who are into Oriental Dusk, Mac B Old Dark Fired, etc). Perique guys? Those of you who are super into it? I'd be curious, once it comes out, what you think.
I'm going to pick up a couple of tins, because like Jackknife, I am not scared of a strong tobacco. I'm not afraid to work and tinker with flavor, especially with quality leaf (which this is). It's going to be a great release by GLP, and surely will have its lovers, haters, and everything in-between (as it goes with this hobby). It'll be worth grabbing some for those that are curious.
Thanks again, time-traveler, you made my day, and...challenge accepted. I have only begun to smoke! :lol:
8)
